Drafting device



Jan. 19, 1965 P. s. HOAGLAND 3,165,839

DRAFTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l J1 1 J J7 INVENTOR.

Jan. 19, 1965 s. HOAGLAND 3,165,839

DRAFTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (/fi r INVENTOR. 7. /67 \5: fizzy/477i 3,lfi5,839 Patented Jan. 19 1965 ice 3,165,815? DRAFTING DEVICE Peter S. l-loagland, 18769 Saratoga, Lathrup Village, Mich. Filed Feb. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 252%?) 11 Claims. (Cl. 33-199) This invention relates tov drafting devices and, more particularly, to a device of this type comprising a straight edge having means for accurately moving the straight edge to the desired position and for firmly holding the sarne in this position while a line is being drawn.

The device of this invention comprises essentially a ruler having at least one straight edge, a pair of rollers mounted on a common ame parallel to said straight edge for guiding movement of said straight edge rectilinearly or in parallelism to itself, and a driving or actuating wheel on sm'd axle intermediate said rollers for moving said straight edge to the desired position and for firmly holding the straight edge in its adjusted position while a line is being drawn.

In accordance with this invention, the actuating wheel has an exposed peripheral portion arranged in substantially the same plane as an adjacent nonrotatable finger rest portion of the ruler to provide a finger sensitive means for adjusting the straight edge of the ruler. The adjacent nonrotat'a le finger rest portion of the ruler may be, and

preferably is, ribbed, knurled, serrated or otherwise suitis reached, the finger is merely rolled over and pressed harder against the nonrotatable surface, thereby producing an interlocking eilect between these parts and arresting roller movement of said rollers. The pressure exerted on the actuating wheel and body is transmitted through the axle to the rollers and thence to the underlying surface, such as a drawing board, to thereby firmly hold the straight edge in its adjusted position while a line is being drawn.

With the above described structure, a simple but elfective means is provided for accomplishing the primary object or" the invention, which is to produce a drafting device of the class described having means to facilitate the accurate setting of a straight edge to the desired line position, and to arrest and hold the straight edge in any adjusted position while a line is being drawn.

It will be understood that when a device of this type is used for cross hatching and the like, some means for equal line spacing, such as a ratchet mechanism, may be introduced, and such means can be made to arrest the movement of the straight edge for any desired line spacing. However, with the present construction, the device is freely movable over its supporting surface. I

The various objects and advantages and the novel details of construction of several commercially practical embodiments of the invention will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the' accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is atop plan view, with certain parts broken away, of a drafting device constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by ilne 2-2 in FIG- URE l; v

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line H in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are slightly enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational views taken on line -5 in FIG- URE 1, showing three stages of manipulating the finger sensitive actuating means of the invention; I

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FlGURE 7 showing a slightly modified form of construction;

FIGURE 9. is a transverse sectional view, similar to FIGURE 4, showing a modified form-ofL construction;

,FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one end ofthe device showing a modified form of bearing for the axle;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional elevational View taken substantially on line ll1l in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a modified form of the finger sensitive adjusting means;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the plan indicated by line 13-13 in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a modified form or the actuating wheel;

FEGURE 15 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing a modified form of construction; and

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 15.

Referring now to the drawings, and, more particularly, to FIGURES 1 to 4 inclusive, it' will be noted that the device consists essentially of a body or ruler 2% having atleast one straight edge 21 for guiding a pencil or pen while a line is being drawn. Mounted upon the body, and preferably integral therewith, is a housing 22 which extends longitudinal of the body 2t? adjacent the edge thereof remote from the straight edge 21. The housing 22 comprises upright walls 23, end walls 24 and a top wall 25.

The end walls 24-, see FIGURES l and 2, are provided with bearing surfaces 2b to rotatably receive an axle 27. The axle 27 is mounted for free rotation in the bearings 26 and extends longitudinally or" the housing 2.2. The axle 27 is mounted on the body 26 in the housing 22 on an axis parallel to the straight edge 21.

Secured to the mle 27 adjacent each end thereof is a supporting roller 3%}, the periphery of which is ribbed, knurled, serrated or otherwise provided with a friction inducing surface. The rollers Ell provide means for moving the body 2% of the device over a supporting surface, such as a drafting board or the like.

Secured to the axle 2'7, preferably intermediate its ends, and between the rollers 3 4i, is a driving or actuating Wheel 35. This wheel 35 is fixed to the axle 27 so that rotation of the wheel 3d will rotate the axle 2'7 and the rollers 3% to move the device over its supporting surface.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES l to 4 inclusive, the peripheral portion 3.6 of the actuating wheel 35 is exposed through a slot 37 formed in the top of the housing 2?. and this peripheral portion is located in substantially the same plane as adjacent nonrotatable portions 38 of the top 25 of the housing 22 which portions 38 constitute finger rest portions used in conjunction with the actuating wheel to obtain accurate, minute adjustments of the straight edge 21 of the device. The finger rest portions 38 are ribbed, knurled, serrated orotherwise. provided withfriction inducing surfaces.

If desired, the slot 3'7 may be provided with depending border flanges 33 extending parallel to the actuating wheel 35to provideadditional abutment surfaces to prevent lateral shifting of the actuating wheel 35 and consequently the shaft 27. Thus, the slot 37, with or without the abutment flanges 39, provides means for preventing lateral shifting of the actuating wheel 35 and hence endwise movement of the axle 27 in a simple but effective manner. However, only one finger rest portion 38 need be provided sothat the'slot 37 could be eliminated and endwise movement of the axle 27 could be prevented by means of flanges or collars thereon (not shown) engaging the end walls 24 of the housing 22.

The actuating wheel 35 and the finger rest portions 38 provide a finger sensitive means for adjusting the straight edge 21 of the ruler body 20. In FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the three steps of manipulation of the finger sensitive actuating means are semidiagramrnatically illustrated.

In these figures, the reference character F indicates the finger of the operator. When initiating the movement of the straight edge, as shown in FIGURE 5, the operator enjoys a mechanical advantage of R+r/R. In this equation, R equals the radius of the supporting rollers 39 and 1' represents the radius of the actuating wheel 35. This results in a more accurate line positioning of the straight edge than could be accomplished by pushing any portion of the body 29 of the ruler.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the operators finger F simuitaneously contacts the exposed surface 36 of the actuating wheel 35 and also an adjacent finger rest portion 38. By engaging the finger with both the rotatable actuating wheel 35 and the nonrotating finger rest portion 38, this adds to the sense of touch and the operator can readily feel the slightest relative movement between the actuating wheel 35 and the finger rest portion 38. This enables the operator to smoothly and accurately move the straight edge to the desired line position. The actuating wheel 35 and, hence, the axle 27 and rollers 50 are rotated to move the straight edge 21 to the desired position. As will be apparent, when the desired position is reached, the finger is merely rolled over and pressed harder against the finger rest portion 38, as shown in FIGURE 7, thereby producing an interlocking effect between the actuating wheel 35 and the finger rest portion 38 and arresting rolling movement of the rollers 30 and thus stopping movement of the straight edge 21.

In FIGURE 8, a slightly modified form of construction is shown in which the actuating wheel 35a is slightly narrower so that the finger F of the operator may span the wheel 35a and simultaneously engage both finger rest portions 38a.

In FIGURE 9, a slightly modified form of construction is illustrated in which the top wall 25 of the housing 22, instead of being substantially fiat or arranged in a horizontal plane, as previously described, is provided adjacent the actuating wheel 40 with oppositely inclined portions 41 and 42 forming a recess 43 adjacent the actuating wheel to receive the finger F of the operator. In providing these inclined surfaces, it will be necessary to heighten the upright walls 23 of the housing 22. With this construction, the recess 43, which is provided, more conveniently accommodates the finger F and makes the device easier to handle. Also, the inclined walls 41 and 42 add to the rigidity of the ruler.

In the form of construction illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4, the bearings 26 for the axle 27 are shown as comprising round apertures in the end walls 24 of the housing 22. In FIGURES l and 11, another form of bearing, which may be used to advantage, is illustrated. This bearing arrangement consists of two half bearings 59 and 51 extending in longitudinally staggered, opposed relation from a top wall 52 and from the side walls 23 respectively of the housing. The bearing member 50 is provided with a semicircular bearing portion 54 and the bearing member 51 is provided with a semicircular bearing portion 55 adapted to engage respectively opposite sides of the axle 27. Only the bearing surface 54 engages the axle 27 while the device is in operation and only the hearing surface 55 engages the axle 27 when the ruler is lifted.

Thus, considerable clearance can be provided between these bearing surfaces and wide tolerances can be used so that the device may be conveniently injection molded as one piece, requiring a minimum, if any, machining.

If desired, additional bearings of the type just described may be placed closer to theactuating wheel to prevent excessive deflection of the axle 27.

In FIGURES 12 and 13, another slightly modified form of construction is illustrated in which the actuating wheel 60 is formed in two sections connected by a central hub portion 61. In this form of construction, the nonrotatable roughened finger rest portions 62 are supplemented by an intermediate finger rest portion 63 extending between the two actuating wheel portions 60. Such an arrangement will increase the sensitivity of the finger sensitive means for adjusting the straight edge.

If desired, the adjusting wheel, indicated at 7 0 in FIG- URE 14, may be formed of three sections 71, 72 and 73 joined together by a hub portion (not shown) similar to the hub portion 61 in FIGURE 13, and in the event this aype of adjusting wheel is used, additional finger rest portions similar to 63 will be provided between each of the sections '71, 72 and 73 of the adjusting wheel.

In the modification shown in FIGURES 15 and 16, the body 89 is shown as extending on opposite sides of the housing and provided with straight edges 81. The housing 82 is provided with spaced, opposed upright walls 83, each provided with a slot 84 through which the periphery of the driving or actuating Wheel 85 is exposed. The actuating wheel 85 is mounted on an axle 86 which is journaled in the housing and is provided at its ends with the supporting rollers 87. The periphery of the actuating wheel 85 is arranged in substantially the same plane as the adjacent nonrotatable roughened portions 88 which constitute finger rest portions used in conjunction with the actuating Wheel 85 to obtain accurate, minute adjustments of the straight edges 81 of the device.

In this form of the invention, the finger of the operator is placed upon either of the finger rest portions 88 in contact with the actuating wheel 85 to actuate the device in substantially the same manner as previously described. In this embodiment of the invention, the device can conveniently be provided with two straight edges and with two sets of finger rest portions, if desired.

Frequently, parallel rulers of the type described herein are provided with one or more apertures, such as indicated at 75 in FIGURE 1. The purpose of such apertures is to accommodate the insertion of a pencil or pen so that lines perpendicular to the straight edge may be drawn. Only one such aperture 75 is shown in FIGURE 1.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that this invention provides finger sensitive means for quickly and easily adjusting a straight edge smoothly and accurately in any desired increments so that a succession of parallel lines of any preferred or desired spacing may be drawn. structurally, the device is so reduced in the number and character of its component parts as to approach the ultimate in structural simplicity, thereby creating an economy in its manufacture, assembly and use.

While several commercially practical forms of the invention have been described and illustrated herein somewhat in detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the class described comprising, a body having a straight edge, an axle rotatably mounted on said body on an axis parallel to said straight edge, supporting rollers secured to said axle adjacent the ends thereof, an actuating wheel of slightly smaller diameter than said rollers secured to said axle intermediate said rollers, sald actuating wheel having an exposed portion of its periphery located in substantially the same plane as an ad acent exposed nonrotatable portion of the body, said nonrotatable portion bridging over said axle and oriented substantially in parallel with said axle and the surface upon which the supporting rollers and the straight edge rest whereby the operator may rotate said actuating Wheel by a finger jointly engaging said actuating wheel and nonrotatable portion and may hold the straight edge in adjusted position by shifting a predominance of finger pressure onto said nonrotatable portion.

2. A device of the class described comprising, a body having a straight edge, an axle rotatably mounted on said body on an axis parallel to said straight edge, supporting rollers secured to said axle adjacent the ends thereof, an actuating wheel secured to said axle intermediate said rollers for rotating said axle, a finger rest portion on said body in the central area of the body and immediately adjacent said actuating wheel, and said actuating wheel having a small portion of its periphery located in substantially the same place but slightly above said finger rest portion to provide a finger sensitive means for adjusting the straight edge.

3. A device of the class described comprising, a body having a straight edge, an axle rotatably mounted on said body on an axis parallel to said straight edge, supporting rollers secured to said axle adjacent the ends thereof, an actuating wheel secured to said axle between said rollers in the central area of said body for rotating said axle, a finger rest portion on said body immediately adjacent said actuating wheel and said actuating wheel having a portion of its periphery located in substantially the same plane but slightly above said finger rest portion, whereby the actuating wheel may be rotated and the straight edge moved to the desired position by a finger of the operator spanning said actuating wheel and finger rest portion, and movement of said straight edge may be arrested by placing a predominance of pressure on said finger rest portion.

4. A device of the class described comprising, a body having a straight edge, an axle rotatably mounted on said body on an axis parallel to said straight edge, supporting rollers secured to said axle adjacent the ends thereof, an actuating wheel secured to said axle between said rollers in the central area of said body for rotating said axle, a finger rest portion on said body immediately adjacent said actuating wheel, said actuating wheel having a small portion of its periphery exposed adjacent said finger rest portion and located in substantially the same plane as said finger rest portion, whereby said straight edge may be adjusted by rotating said actuating wheel by a finger of the operator applied simultaneously to said actuating wheel and finger rest portion whereby the amount of rotation of said actuation Wheel relative to said finger rest portion may be readily determined and the movement of the straight edge may be arrested by exerting a greater finger pressure on said finger rest portion.

5. A device as described in claim 1 in which the peripheries of the rollers and actuating wheel are provided with friction inducing surfaces.

6. In a drafting device, a body having a straight edge and a housing, an axle rotatably mounted in said housing on an axis parallel to said straight edge, supporting rollers secured to said axle adjacent the ends thereof, an actuating wheel secured to said axle approximately midway between said supporting rollers for rotating said axle, a finger rest portion on said housing adjacent said actuating wheel, said actuating wheel having a small portion of its periphery exposed adjacent said finger rest portion and located in substantially the same plane as said finger rest portion, said actuating Wheel and finger rest portion constituting a finger sensitive means for adjusting said straight edge and for holding said straight edge in its adjusted position.

7. In a drafting device, a body having a straight edge and a housing provided with end walls, an axle rotatably mounted in the end walls of said housing parallel to said straight edge, supporting rollers fixed to said axle adjacent the ends thereof, said housing being provided with a slot, a finger rest portion on said housing adjacent said slot, an actuating wheel secured to said axle and having a portion of its periphery extending through said slot to prevent endwise movement of said axle and to expose a small portion of its periphery the exposed portion of said actuating wheel and said finger rest portion being located in substantially the same plane, said actuating wheel and finger rest portion constituting a finger sensitive means for adjusting said straight edge and for holding said straight edge in adjusted position.

8. A device as described in claim 6 in which a finger rest portion is provided on each side of said actuating wheel whereby the finger of the operator may simultaneously engage the actuating wheel and both finger rest portions.

9. A device as described in claim 6 in which the actuating wheel is provided with laterally spaced, exposed peripheral portions and said housing is provided with a finger rest portion between the laterally spaced portions of said actuating wheel.

10. A device of the class described comprising, a body having a straight edge for resting upon a drafting plane, an axle rotatably mounted on said body on an axis parallel to said straight edge, supporting rollers secured to said axle adjacent the ends thereof, an actuating wheel for rotating said axle secured to said axle in the central area between said rollers, a finger rest portion on said body adjacent said actuating wheel and at a distance from the drafting plane approximately equalling half of the total of the diameters of one of said rollers and said actuating wheel.

11. A device of the class described comprising, a body having a straight edge, an axle rotatably mounted on said body on an axis parallel to said straight edge, supporting rollers secured to said axle adjacent the ends thereof, an actuating Wheel for rotating said axle of slightly smaller diameter than said rollers, secured to said axle intermediate said rollers, a finger rest portion on said body adjacent said actuating Wheel, said actuating wheel having its highest peripheral portion above the plane upon which the supporting rollers and the straight edge rest located in substantially the same plane as said finger rest portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,922 12/78 Cousins 33109 684,005 10/01 Stokes 33-109 1,064,222 6/ 13 Holmes 33-109 2,670,541 3/54 Priess 33--109 3,005,286 10/ 61 Derham.

FOREIGN PATENTS 797,787 '7/5 8 Great Britain.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT, B. HULL, Examiner.

UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,165,839 January 19, 1965 Peter S. Hoagland It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 67, for "ilne" read li column 4, line 14, for "aype" read type column 5, line 10, for "place" read plane Signed and sealed this 1st day of June 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING, A BODY HAVING A STRAIGHT EDGE, AN AXLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID STRAIGHT EDGE, SUPPORTING ROLLERS SECURED TO SAID AXLE ADJACENT THE ENDS THEREOF, AN ACTUATING WHEEL OF SLIGHTLY SMALLER DIAMETER THAN SAID ROLLERS SECURED TO SAID AXLE INTERMEDIATE SAID ROLLERS, SAID ACTUATING WHEEL HAVING AN EXPOSED PORTION OF ITS PERIPHERY LOCATED IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE AS AN ADJACENT EXPOSED NONROTATABLE PORTION OF THE BODY, SAID NONROTATABLE PORTION BRIDGING OVER SAID AXLE AND ORIENTED SUBSTANTIALLY IN PARALLEL WITH SAID AXLE AND THE SURFACE UPON WHICH THE SUPPORTING ROLLERS AND THE STRAIGHT EDGE REST WHEREBY THE OPERATOR MAY ROTATE SAID ACTUATING WHEEL WHEEL BY A FINGER JOINTLY ENGAGING SAID ACTUATING WHEEL AND NONROTATABLE PORTION AND MAY HOLD THE STRAIGHT EDGE IN ADJUSTED POSITION BY SHIFTING A PREDOMINANCE OF FINGER PRESSURE ONTO SAID NONROTATABLE PORTION. 